Dissolve motion display



OC. l, 1968 LANE 3,403,465

DISSOLVE MOTION DISPLAY Filed April 18, 1966 2 Sheeis-SheeI 1 l VH nv veA/rok JOHN LANE ggd B Y ATToRNevs Oct. l, 1968 J. LANE 3,403,465 DISSOLVE MOTION DISPLAY Filed April 18, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 A T TORNEYS United States Patent O 3,403,465 DISSOLVE MOTION DISPLAY John Lane, Kirtland, Ohio, assignor to Keeler and Dunkel, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Filed Apr. 13, 1966, Ser. No. 543,123 7 Claims. (Cl. 40-65) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A changing visual display comprising two relatively movable display sheets, each having a plurality of strips formed by slits and interleaved in sliding, overlapping relationship, and means reciprocating the sheets in the planes thereof, transversely of the length of the members to alternately expose the displays on the sheets.

The present invention relates to a changeable indicia bearing device for use in displays and which is effective to alternately change messages, advertisements, etc., and more particularly toa dissolve motion display.

The present invention provides a new and improved changeable indicia be-aring device of the character described above and which includes a pair of relatively movable sheets with each of the sheets having a plurality of indicia bearing elements disposed in a side-by-side relationship, and in which the respective elements of the sheets are interengaged in an overlapping sliding relationship so that when the members are relatively moved in opposite directions the respective indicia bearing elements thereof are alternately covered and uncovered to alternately change the indicia that is viewable, and wherein the elements are defined by spaced slits having a configuration and arrangement such that adjacent ends of the elements will not snag, etc., so that the sheets can be easily and smoothly moved relative :to each other with a minimum of friction.

The present invention further provides a new and improved changeable indici-a bearing device, as defined in the next preceding paragraph, and in which the slits have an intermediate, preferably straight, portion and curved end portions which smoothly join the intermediate portions so that the Iadjacent elements defined by the slits are provided with side edges having a smooth transition from their curved portion to their straight portion.

The present invention additionally provides a new and improved dissolve motion display having a frame and a changeable indicia bearing assembly removably supported by the frame, and wherein the changeable indicia bearing assembly comprises a pair of relatively 1movable sheet members each provided with a plurality of spaced slits defining a plurality of indicia bearing elements disposed in side-by-side relationship Vand wherein the respective elements in the sheet `members are interengaged in an overlapping sliding relationship so that when the members are relatively moved in opposite directions the respective indicia bearing elements thereof are alternately covered and uncovered to alternately change the indicia that is viewable, and in which the slits defining the elements are of a configuration and arrangement such that the elements of the respective sheet members will not snag, etc. so that the sheets can be easily and smoothly moved relative to each other with a minimum of friction.

The present invention resides in cert-ain novel constructions, combinations and arrangements of parts and further objects sand advantages thereof Will be apparent to those skilled in the art to which the invention relates and from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment thereof described with reference to the aC- companying drawings, and in which simil-ar reference 3,403,465 Patented Oct. l, 1968 ICC characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a dissolve motion display embodying the present invention and showing a first indicia:

FIG. 2 is -a front elevational view of the display like that shown in FIG. 1 but showing a second indicia;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the display shown in FIG. l;

FIG. 4 is a rear elevational view of part of the display isjlliown in FIG. 1 and showing the same partially assem- FIG. 5 is a rear elevational view of parts of the display sli-own in FIG. 1 and showing the same partially assembled;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary rear elevation-al view of the parts shown in FIG. 5 but showing the same in their assembled position;

FIG. 7 is a rear elevation-al view of part of the display shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is a rear elevational view of another part of the display shown in FIG. l;

FIG. 9 is a rear elevational view of those parts shown in FIGS. 7 rand 8 and illustrating how they are assembled together;

FIG. 10 is a rear elevational view of those parts shown in FIG. 9 but showing the same assembled together;

FIG. 11 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view taken approximately along line 11-11 of FIG. 6; and

FIG. 12 is an enlarged fragmentary rear elevational view of a portion of the part shown in FIG. 7.

The present -invention provides a novel changeable indicia bearing device for use in displays and which is effective to alternately Ichange messages, advertisements, etc., and in particular provides la novel dissolve motion display. As representing a highly practical embodiment of the present invention, the drawings show a dissolve tno-` tion display 10. The dissolve motion display 10 comprises, in general, a frame 'assembly 12, a changeable indicia bearing device or assembly 14 removably supported by the frame assembly for alternately changing messages, advertisements, etc., and a power drive means 16 carried by the frame assembly 12 for actuating the changeable indicia bearing device 14.

The frame assembly 12 is here shown as being in the form of a generally rectangularly shaped box and comprises a frame -or body member 20 (FIG. 4) and a back panel 29 which is detachably connected to the frame 20. The frame 20 is preferably of ra one-piece, cardboard construction and comprises a rectangularly shaped front panel 22 having a large 4generally central opening 24 therethrough and generally rectangularly shaped top, bottom and side panels 25-28, respectively, integnally connected -to the adjacent edges of the front panel 22 by fold lines which are co-extensive with the length of the respective edges of the front panel. The top, bottom and side panels 25-28 are also integrally connected via fold lines along their edges remote from the front panel 24 t-o rec-tangularly shaped wing panels 25a-28a, respectively.

The frame 20 is assembled by folding the top, bottom and side panels 25-28 along their respective fold lines rearwardly of the front panel 22 until they extend approximately at right angles thereto, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 and then successively folding the side wing panels 27a and 28a and the top and bottom wing panels 25a and 26a along their fold lines toward each other until they extend at approximately right angles to the respective panels 25-28 to which they are integrally connected, as shown in FIG. 6. When so folded, the top and bottom wing panels 25a and 26a overlie the side wing panels 27a and 28a. The top and bottom wing panels 25a and 26a have integrally formed tabs 30 thereon which are insertable through aligned slots 31 in the side wing panels 27a and 28a to secure and retain the various panels within their assembled relation. The back panel 29 is of the same shape as the front panel 22 and is provided with a plurality of tabs 34 along its marginal edges which are adapted to be inserted through aligned slots 35 within the wing panels 25a-28a of the frame to detachably connect the back panel 29 to the frame 20 and complete the assembly 12. The frame assembly 12 provides a generally rectangularly shaped enclosure and support for housing and supporting the changeable indicia bearing device 14 and the power drive means 16 which is of an economical, practical and sturdy construction.

The changeable indicia bearing device 14 is removably supported by the frame 20 and has indicia bearing surfaces which are viewable from a location external of the dsiplay 10 through the opening 24 in the front panel 22 and which are adapted to alternately appear and disappear, as will hereinafter become more fully apparent. The changeable indicia bearing device 14 comprises, in the preferred embodiment, a stationary sheet or member and a movable sheet or member 42 which is slidably supported by the stationary sheet 40 for linear movement in opposite directions relative thereto. The sheets 40 and 42 are here shown as having a generally rectangular overall configuration and are preferably made of a thin flexible material, such as cardboard. The sheets 40 and 42 have a plurality of integrally formed elements 45 and 46, respectively, extending transversely of the direction of movement of the sheet 42 and disposed in a side-by-side relationship.

The elements 4S of the sheet 40 have indicia bearing front surfaces 48 and are defined by a plurality of longitudinally spaced slits or cut lines 50 extending from a location spaced inwardly from the upper marginal edge of the sheet 40 to a location spaced upwardly from the lower marginai edge thereof. As best shown in FIG. 7, the slits 50 have straight intermediate portions 54 which extend parallel to one another and which intersect and are inclined with respect to the longitudinal center line of the sheet 40. The slits 50 also have curved or arcuate end portions 56 and 58 at their upper and lower ends, respectively, forming a continuation of the intermediate portion 54 and which extend in opposite directions from each other. The curved end portions 56 and 58 of the slits 50 smoothly join the intermediate portions 54 so that the side edges 60 of the elements 45 defined by the slits 50 are smooth and uninterrupted throughout their extent and so that a smooth uninterrupted transition between the straight and curved portions of the side edges 60 of the elements is effected, as best shown in FIG. 12. The stationary sheet 40 further contains a horizontally extending slit 62, as viewed in FIG. 7, spaced upwardly from its lower edge and vertically extending slits 64 extending from the outer ends of the curved portions 58 to the horizontally extending slit 62 so that the elements are free at their lower ends.

The elements 46 of the sheet 42 have indicia bearing front surfaces 65 and are dened by a plurality of longitudinally spaced slits 66 extending from a location spaced inwardly from the upper marginal edge of the sheet 42 to a location spaced upwardly from the lower marginal edge thereof, as best shown in FIG. 8. The slits 66 are of the same configuration as the slits 50 in the stationary member 40 except that their intermediate portions 67 are inclined in a direction opposite to the direction of inclination of the intermediate portions 54 of the slits 50 and their upper and lower curved end portions 68 and 69, respectively, extend in a direction opposite to the respective upper and lower curved end portions 56 and 58 of the slits 50. The elements 46 differ from the elements 45 only in that they are integrally connected with the remainder of the sheet at both of their opposite ends.

The elements 4S and 46 of the sheets 40 and 42, respectively, are slanted or inclined in opposite directions and are adapted to be interengaged or interleaved in an overlapping sliding relationship and with their indicia bearing front surfaces 48 and 65 facing in the same direction. To effect the interengaged overlapping sliding relationship of the elements 45 and 46, the upper end of the front or indicia bearing side of the movable sheet 42 is positioned over the lower end of the back or non-indicia bearing side of the stationary sheet 40, as shown in FIG. 9. The free or lower ends of the elements 45 of the sheet 40 are then inserted through the adjacently positioned slits 66 so that they emerge on the back side or non-indicia bearing side of the sheet 42. The sheets 40 and 42 are then moved relatively toward each other until they are in juxtaposition with each other, as shown in FIG. 10, in which position the elements 45 and 46 will be completely interengaged with each other.

When the respective elements 45 and 46 of the sheets 40 and 42 have been slidably interengaged, as described above, the movable sheet 42 is fastened to the stationary sheet 40 and in a manner which permits the sheets 40 and 42 to be linearly moved relative to each other. To this end, the stationary sheet 40 has a pair of openings 70 at longitudinally spaced locations adjacent its upper marginal edge and the movable sheet 42 has a pair of longitudinally spaced slots 72 adjacent its upper marginal edge and extending parallel thereto. The slots 72 are aligned with the openings and with complementary shaped slots 74 in a stiifener member 75 suitably secured to the upper end of the back side of the sheet 42 and extending longitudinally thereacross, as shown in FIG. 11. The sheets 40 and 42 are connected together by a pair of eyelet fasteners 76 carried 4by the sheet 40 and which extend through the aligned openings 70 and the slots 72 and 74 and which have flange portions 77 at their opposite ends which engage the sheet 40 and the stiffener member 75. Suitable enlarged carboard Washers 78 interposed between the anges of the eyelet fasteners 76 and the sheet 40 and the stitfener member 75 are preferably provided to insure that the fasteners retain the sheets 40 and 42 together. The provision of the slots 72 and 74 and fasteners 76 provides a sliding connection between the sheets 40 and 42 and enables the movable sheet 42 to be linearly moved relative to the stationary sheet 40. The provision of the stiffener member 75 increases the rigidity of the sheet 42 and prevents or minimizes buckling of the latter when moved relative to the stationary sheet 40.

To prevent the lower ends of the elements 45 of the stationary sheet 40 from becoming disengaged from the elements 46 of the movable sheet 42, the stationary sheet 40 is provided with a iiap 80 integrally connected thereto by a fold line 81 and which is adapted to be folded across the back side of the sheet 42. The lower ends of the elements 45 ie., the ends defined by the vertical and horizontal slit lines 64 and `62, are then positioned over the back side of the iiap 80 and adhesively secured -to the back side of the ap 80 by a strip .of adhesive tape 82.

The changeable indicia bearing assembly 14 is adapted to be detachably connected to a holder member 85 secured to the back side of the front panel 22 of the frame 20. As best shown in FIG. 4, the holder member 85 extends horizontally across the top of the front panel 22, and is preferably made from cardboard. The holder member `85 includes stationary portion 86 which is glued or otherwise secured to the back side of the front panel 22 and a iiap 87 integrally connected to the top edge of the stationary portion 86 by a fold line and -which is adapted to be folded against the stationary portion 86. The flap 87 and the stationary portion 86 of the holder member 85 carry cooperating snap fastener elements 90 and 91, respectively, at spaced locations thereon, which locations are spaced apart a distance equal to the spacing between the centers of the eyelet fasteners 76 of the changeable indicia Ibearing assembly 14, The snap fastener elements 91 on the stationary portion 86 comprise a prong which is adapted to extend through the eyelet fasteners 76 and be snap tittingly received in the fastener element 90, which is a recessed catch, carried by the flap 87.

The lower end of the changeable indicia bearing assembly 14 is retained in juxtaposition with respect to the lower end of the back side of the front panel 22 by a retainer member 92. The retainer member 92 is glued or otherwise secured to the back side of the panel 22 adjacent its lower end and includes a pair of upwardly extending tabs or portions 94 at its opposite ends which are not glued to the back side and which retain and position the lower end of the assembly 14 against the front panel when the latter is received between the tabs 94 and the front panel 22.

The movable sheet or member 42 is adapted to be linearly moved longitudinally relative to the stationary sheet or member 40 between a first position in which the front indicia bearing surfaces 48 of all of the elements 45 will be visible through the opening 24 and lie in a single flat plane, as shown in FIG. l, and a second position in which all of the front indicia bearing surfraces 65 of the elements 46 will be visible through the opening 24 and lie in a single flat plane, as shown in FIG. 2. The interleaved arrangement of the elements 45 and 46 is effective to cause the indicia bearing surfaces 4S and 65 to alternately appear and disappear or dissolve as the movable sheet 42 is respectively moved from its second position toward its first position and vice versa. When the movable sheet 42 is in its first position, the elements 46 thereof are covered by the elements 45 of the sheet 40 and when iu its second position the elements 46 thereof are visible and cover the elements 45 of the sheet 40.

The indicia printed on the front surfaces 48 and 65 of the elements 45 and 46 can be of any suitable form, such as a message, advertisement, picture, etc., and is here shown for purposes of illustration as a series of circles 95 and a series of squares 96, respectively.

The movable member 42 is adapted to be linearly moved or reciprocated relative to the stationary member 40 between its first and second positions by the power drive means 16. The power drive means 16 may be of any suitable type and is here shown as comprising an electric motor 100 which is suitably secured by a bracket to the inner side panel 27 of the frame 20. The electric motor has an output shaft to which is fixed an eccentric device 102. The drive means 16 further includes a crank arm 104 having one end pivotally connected to the eccentric device 102 and the other end pivotally connected to the stiffener member 75 secured to the movable member 42. The stiffener member 75 has a ap 106 which is integrally connected by a. fold line to the portion secured to the back side of the member 42. The flap 106 carries an eyelet fastener 107 to which the other end of the crank arm 104 is pivotally connected. From the foregoing it should be apparent that `when the electric motor 100 is energized, the eccentric device 102 is rotated and that rotation of the eccentric device causes the crank arm 104 to be reciprocated back and forth which in turn causes the movable member 42 to be reciprocated back and forth between its first and second positions.

lt should be noted that by providing slits 50 and 66 in which the curved end portions smoothly join with the inltermediate straight portion so that the side edges of the elements 45 and 46, respectively, are smooth throughout their length and so that a smooth transition takes place between the straight and curved portions of the side edges that the respective elements 45 and 46 will slide freely and easily relative to each other with a minimum of friction. It has been found that this arrangement and construction prevents the adjacent overlapping ends of the elements 45 and 46 from catching or snagging when moved relative to each other. It has also been found that this construction -and arrangement enables the elements 45 and 46 to be rapidly formed by conventional die cutting apparatus, provides for a sturdy assembly having a long life and w-hich is not subject to rapid wear,

The dissolve motion display is here shown as being supported on a base 120. The base 120 has a bottom and a pair of upwardly extending sides between which the lower portion of the frame assembly 12 is adapted to be snugly received, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3. Alternately, the dissolve motion display 10 could be supported from a suitable vertically extending support such as a pole, etc. T o this end the top wing panel 25a and the back panel 29 have aligned cutouts, the cutout of the wing panel 25a being shown at 125, for receiving a hook or the like to enable the display 10 to be supported from a vertical support. The aligned cutouts have serrated upper edges, the edge 126 of cutout 125 being shown, for the purpose of enabling the display 10 to -be supported in a balanced condition.

From the foregoing, it can be seen that a novel changeable indicia bearing device for use in displays and having a pair of relatively movable sheets or members with each of the sheets having a plurality of spaced slits defining a plurality of indicia bearing elements disposed in a side by side relationship and wherein the respective elements in the sheet members are interengaged in an overlapping sliding relationship so that when the members are relatively moved the indicia on the respective elements alternately appears and disappears, and in which the slits are of a configuration and arrangement such that the adjacent ends of the elements will not snag and can be more easily and smoothly moved relative to each other with a minimum of friction has been provided. It can also be seen that a novel dissolve motion display having such a changeable indicia' bearing device has been provided.

While the preferred form of the invention has been described in considerable detail, it will be apparent that the invention is not limited to the construction shown and it is my intention to cover hereby all adaptations, modifications and changes therein which come within the practice of those skilled in the art to which the invention relates and the scope of the appended claims.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. A changeable indicia .bearing device which is adapted to be attached to a body member of the display comprisin-g: a slide assembly having first and second relatively movable sheet members, said first and second sheet members each having a plurality of spaced slits defining therebetween a plurality of elongated elements in a side-.by-side relationship, said elements of said first sheet member extending through the slits of said second sheet and being in a sliding overlapping relationship with the elements of the said second sheet member, the elements of at least one of said sheet members having indicia thereon and with the indicia on said elements being alternately covered and uncovered by the elements of the other sheet member when said sheet members are moved in opposite direction relative to each other, said slits extending transversely of the direction of relative movement of said sheet members and each slit having an intermediate portion and curved end portions which smoothly join said intermediate portion, said slits providing side edges for said elements which are smooth and uninterrupted in the transition between their intermediate and curved end portions, whereby said elements on said first and second sheet members freely and smoothly slide relative to each other; and means including a projection from one of said sheet members located outwardly beyond the end portions of the slits thereof and a slot in the other of said sheet members extending transversely of the slits thereof and located to receive said projections, said slot permitting said relative movement between said members, and said projection and slot cooperating to guide the relative movement between the two sheets.

2. A changeable indicia bearing device which is adapted to be detachably connected to a body member of a display comprising: a slide assembly having first and second relatively movable sheet members, said first and second sheet members having a plurality of inclined spaced slits extending from adjacent one marginal edge toward the opposite marginal edge and defining therebetween a plurality of slanted elongated elements in a side-by-side relationship, said elements of said first sheet member being slanted in a direction opposite to the slanted elements of said second sheet member, said slanted elements of said first sheet member extending through the slits lof said second sheet member and being in a sliding overlapping relationship with the slanted elements of said second sheet member and vice versa, the elements of each of said sheet members having indica lthereon facing in the same direction and with the indicia on said elements of said sheet members being alternately covered and uncovered by the elements of the other sheet member when said sheet members are moved in opposite directions relative to each other, said inclined slits of said first and second sheet members extending transversely of the direction of relative movement of said sheet members and each having an intermediate straight portion and curved portions at opposite ends of the intermediate portion, which curved portions extend in opposite directions from each other and smoothly join said intermediate-- portion to provide side edges for said elements which are smooth and uninterrupted in the transition between their intermediate and curved portions, said inclined slits of said first sheet members each having an extending portion beyond the curved portion at one end, a transverse slit in said first sheet member intersecting the extending portions of the inclined slits to form free ends of the elements, and means behind said first sheet member anchoring said free ends of the slanted elements in fixed positions relative to the first sheet member at locations beyond the curved portions ofthe slits.

3. A changeable indicia bearing device, as defined in claim 2 and wherein said first sheet member is adapted to be held stationary when detachably connected to the body member of a display and slidably supports said second sheet member for linear movement in opposite directions relative thereto.

4. In a dissolve motion display; a body member including a panel having at least one viewing opening therethrough, a slide assembly detachably connected adjacent an upper edge thereof to the body member, extending across the viewing opening comprising a stationary sheet member with projections extending 4therefrom and a movable sheet member having elongated slots that receive said projections, said movable sheet member being slidably supported and guided by said projections for movement in two opposite directions relative to the stationary sheet member, drive means carried by said body member and connected'to said movable sheet member for reciprocating said movable sheet member relative to the stationary sheet member and body member, said sheet members each having a plurality of spaced slits extending from adjacent one marginal edge to an opposite marginal edge and defining therebetween a plurality of elongated elements ina side-by-side relationship, said elements of each of said sheet members extending through the slits of the other sheet member and being in sliding and overlapping relationship with the elements of the other sheet member, the elements of each of said sheet members having indicia thereon facing toward said opening in said panel and with the indicia on said elements of said sheet members being alternately covered and uncovered by the elements of the other sheet member when said movable sheet member is moved in opposite directions relative to the stationary sheet, said slits of said sheet members extending transversely of the direction of movement of said movable sheet member and having an intermediate portion and curved end portions which extend in opposite directions from each other and which smoothly join said intermediate portion to provide side edges for said elements which are smooth and unintrerupted in the transition between their intermediate and curved end portions;

5. In a dissolve motion display as set forth in claim 4, a retainer member on the body member overlapping a lower edge of the slide assembly to position the lower portion of the slide assembly adjacent the said panel of the body member.

6. In a dissolve motion display, as defined in claim 4, and wherein said elements of said stationary and movable sheets are slanted in opposite directions with respect to each other.

7. In a dissolve motion display, as defined in claim 6, and wherein said intermediate portions of said slits of each of said sheets extend parallel to each other.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 718,305 1/1903 Blanchard 40h62 2,139,149 12/1938 Brown 40-65XR EUGENE R. CAPOZIO, Primary Examiner.

WILLIAM H. GRIEB, Assistant Examiner. 

